Looking at the sock that was pulled out, Li Yan coughed: "What's the big deal? It's just a sock!"

Wen Qianyi's mouth curled into a beautiful arc: "It's just a sock! Today those armed terrorists also had socks over their heads. You've got the same prop as them; could be a mole suspicion!"

"What are you doing?" Wen Qianyi shrank her foot back.

"I'm checking if you're wearing socks. Seems like you are too! So don't you also have a sock prop?" Li Yan said leisurely, "Your reasoning's too far-fetched. It's like a murder weapon; every man has one. We can't suspect every man and confiscate their tools just for that, can we?"

Wen Qianyi wasn't easily fooled. With a smile, she retorted to Li Yan's rebuttal: "I'm a woman; wearing socks is normal. You're a man; why do you have a sock in your pocket? Pull up your pant leg, let me see. If you're wearing socks too, I'll concede!"

Li Yan was speechless: "..."

"Alright, what are you trying to prove?"

"When others saw the terrorists, they were terrified, yet you not only skillfully saved me and Yurong but also drove off alone to give chase while everyone was still in shock! Is that a normal person's reaction?"

"Almost getting us all killed, should I be thanking you?" Li Yan sneered.

"And when those terrorists showed up, you left as if you had foresight. Going to the toilet or having a smoke doesn't take that long. Were you constipated? Even when they controlled the scene, no one saw you being coerced out. After the dust settled, we couldn't find you. Only after half the people left did you slip out suddenly! Suspicious! Although I don't think you have the hero chic, facts suggest you might just be that mysterious hero who saved everyone!" Wen Qianyi narrowed her eyes slightly, scrutinizing Li Yan up close, as if trying to see through to his true self.

Li Yan looked at her seriously, "I never thought you'd find out..."

Wen Qianyi was dumbfounded for a moment, not expecting him to admit it directly.

"... That's right. I'm the legendary Sock Man…"

"Sock... Man?"

"Yes, my friends Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, the Green Giant, Iron Man... have all been made known to the public through films. Only I remain in legend. Once my legend gets adapted into a movie, the people of Yun Country will name it 'Socks Hero'. You'll be familiar with it then." Li Yan said seriously.

Wen Qianyi really wanted to kick this guy out. She threw the sock at him and huffed, "Keep babbling nonsense! Anyway, if you can't convince me, I'll assume you're the mysterious man. You still have time to silence me..."

"Oh really? Aren't you afraid I'd kill you?"

"Get lost!"

"Honestly, it's not that I don't want to tell you. I'm just afraid the glorious image you have of me would collapse instantly. Things are fine as they are; you can worship me as a hero! I've never had the chance to give someone my autograph."

Seeing signs his tone might be softening, Wen Qianyi quickly said, "No worries, you've never been glorified in my eyes, so it won't collapse. Just say it!"

"..." Li Yan cast her a wistful glance, "Actually, your initial guess was right, I was indeed on a date with a girl in the restroom!"

Wen Qianyi was utterly flabbergasted.

"In fact, while smoking at the restroom entrance, my posture was too suave and got me approached by a girl. You know, I'm not an indiscriminate person, but I do like helping others."

As Li Yan said this, he rummaged in his pockets and pulled out another sock.

Seeing there really was a pair, Wen Qianyi was a bit speechless. Could he really be like this? Just left us and hooked up with a stranger in the restroom…

Li Yan casually tossed them away; by now they were far enough away to not be associated with the Prince Hotel anymore.

Despite his calm and composed demeanor, Wen Qianyi still had suspicions. Most attendees tonight brought female companions, and at such a social event where familiar faces could be encountered at any time, it's unlikely to have such carefree girls like at a regular nightclub.

Besides, his attitude was off. If it were a regular man, they'd be secretly delighted at such words, responding ambiguously, implying consent. Even if caught later, one could say they hadn't explicitly agreed nor disagreed. But Li Yan exaggerated on purpose and then seriously rebutted.

Thinking of this, Wen Qianyi didn't call him out, just grew more curious about Li Yan.

...

In the end, Wen Qianyi didn't take Li Yan home, and Li Yan didn't ask her to. He got off at an appropriate place and took a taxi back himself.

Returning home, he found Zhang Yurong and Yue Yao waiting for him, saying they had prepared a late-night snack. It wasn't too late, and they hadn't eaten much at the banquet earlier.

The three went to the dining room to eat together. Zhang Yurong and Yue Yao ate in silence, and not much. Li Yan, knowing they were worried about him, recited what he said to Wen Qianyi and Yu Xiaodi for them to hear. Admittedly, it was mainly for Zhang Yurong; Yue Yao knew if he was acting, he'd only return after resolving it.

After dinner, exchanging a few words, Li Yan went upstairs to his room.

He had already found an opportunity to throw the two guns into a stinking ditch after leaving Wen Qianyi. He hadn't brought the socks back either, but still had some things he had searched from Liu Yunqing and Chen Xingye. He hadn't had the time to scrutinize them until now in his room.

The items were few, just wallets and phones. Both people had cleaned up well, with nothing in the wallets to reveal their identities, nor any contact details. Only some cash and cards. After checking, he looked into the contents of the two phones.

Clearly, Li Yan's appearance and timing had been unexpectedly for them, so some content for the evening had not been cleared from the phones. Chen Xingye's was rather scant, with no call records except for a few cryptic short messages yet to be deleted. Within Liu Yunqing's phone, Li Yan found a received number. Judging by the timing, it appeared to be the order to start, and the owner of this number likely orchestrated, even plotted at a distance, probably waiting in another room at the Prince Hotel or somewhere nearby.

Li Yan promptly fetched another phone and dialed Guan Ziyi's number. Before Guan Ziyi had a chance to complain about his phone being off, Li Yan clarified his intentions and asked him to find someone to trace the number and check its background.

One clap of the hands is not loud enough, and Liu Yunqing, Peng Duandao, Feng Wuqing and their group's decision was driven not only by inherent issues and conflicts but also by others' lucrative temptations. Li Yan had decided to return. If such matters hadn't arisen, perhaps they wouldn't dare make reckless moves after he went back; problems and conflicts could have been addressed otherwise.

But now… With this incident temporarily resolved, those innocent guests and young participants suffered no major loss beyond fright and emotional tests. Yet Li Yan's loss was substantial! Several elites wiped out at once, by his own hand!

The problems faced must be reviewed and addressed, but those digging behind also can't be let off! Moreover, his appearance tonight already thwarted a major plan of theirs, arousing enmity. It's imperative to strike preemptively against adversaries!

After Guan Ziyi promised immediate assistance, Li Yan laid down the phone and began pondering, deciding to consult with Queen tonight. News would soon spread within the circle, and it was time to stabilize morale. He aimed to be high-profile, letting Queen disseminate the news of his return to the organization members.

While he was lost in thought behind closed doors, a knocking on the door sounded.

In this spacious house, the chances of hearing a knock on his door after entering his room were rare, maybe once a month. Just like how he had only knocked on Zhang Yurong's door twice to borrow a car.

Of course, with Yue Yao now residing here, it was quite possible she had come over to discuss tonight's matters.

Li Yan immediately got up to open the door, only to find Zhang Yurong, standing daintily, not the dreamlike beauty Yue Yao. Thankfully, he hadn't called out for Queen directly. Seeing she seemed to have something to say, he asked, "What's on your mind?"

Zhang Yurong glanced at him, whispering, "Shouldn't you... invite me in to talk?... Politeness."

Li Yan was speechless. Politeness indeed! What's there to talk about that takes more than a few words; the time it takes to open and close the door is longer. Besides, weren't you always wary of me as a wolf? Want to politely enter the wolf's den?

"As you wish, please!" He opened the door wider to let her in. Perhaps it was because Yue Yao was around that she didn't want her friends to know their relationship was actually much more distant than claimed.

Their bedrooms were adjacent with the same design layout, very large and spacious, almost empty for one person.

Looking at the somewhat familiar, yet distant room, Zhang Yurong felt a little lost. Four or five months since moving here, this was her first time coming here, right? Alas… Was this a small step underfoot, a huge step in the heart? (To be continued, for more details, please visit www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support legitimate reading!)

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